Alberta’s Measles Outbreak Worst Since 1970s, Health Officials Urge Urgent Vaccination Amid Rising Cases
Toronto, The Gulf Observer: Alberta is experiencing a dramatic and historic resurgence of measles, surpassing case levels not seen since 1979, with 868 cases confirmed since March—eclipsing the previous record of 854 cases in 1986.
The 29 new cases reported Thursday underscore what experts call a public health crisis not witnessed since before modern vaccination programs.
“It’s a little shocking,” said Dr. Craig Jenne, a microbiology and infectious diseases professor at the University of Calgary. “We’re really going back to an era where the vaccine program was just getting started… pre-vaccination times here in Alberta.”
Hotspots and Health Alerts
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued standing measles exposure advisories for regions with widespread transmission, particularly in the south, central and north zones, including:
- La Crete (Hamlet)
- St. Theresa General Hospital (Fort Vermilion)
- Northwest Health Centre (High Level)
As of June 7, at least 75 Albertans have been hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care, with the unimmunized making up the vast majority of cases.
Falling Vaccination Rates Blamed
Although Canada’s MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine became standard in the early 1980s, waning vaccine uptake in certain communities has allowed community-level transmission to take hold, Jenne explained.
The province’s worst-ever measles year was 1957, with 12,337 cases—a grim benchmark health officials hope to avoid.
Emergency Vaccination Campaign
To curb the surge, Alberta is offering an early, extra dose of the MMR vaccine to infants as young as 6 months in high-risk zones. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications such as:
- Pneumonia
- Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- Premature birth
- Death, especially in young children and the immunocompromised
Measles Symptoms
Anyone with measles symptoms should stay home and call the hotline before visiting a hospital or clinic:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Blotchy red or purplish rash, 3–7 days after fever onset (may appear darker in deeper skin tones)
Measles Hotline & Information
For symptom concerns, vaccination records, or appointments, call Alberta’s Measles Hotline:
📞 1-844-944-3434
Visit the Alberta Health Services website for detailed measles information, updates, and immunization services (URL included for reference; not clickable here).
Public Health Message
Dr. Jenne stressed the urgency:
“We’ve thrown the province back into a situation that looks much like pre-vaccine Canada. If you or your children are not fully vaccinated, now is the time.”
Health officials emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles outbreaks and complications.
